Sports Reporter

The Knoxville News Sentinel and USA TODAY South Region, part of the USA TODAY NETWORK, are seeking a hard-working and energetic sports reporter to lead coverage of University of Tennessee men's basketball and Tennessee baseball in Knoxville, Tennessee. We are seeking a dynamic reporter who is digitally savvy and committed to leading the conversation in a highly competitive market.

The ideal candidate will use reporting skills to find and tell compelling human-interest stories and identify interesting trends for enterprise stories that go beyond what happened on the basketball court or baseball field. This position requires multimedia skills, the ability to produce and edit video and engage audience on social media.

The reporter must be SEO savvy, can spot high-interest topics using engagement tools like Google Trends and can work independently but also thrives in collaborative environments.

The successful candidate will need to:

• Possess strong writing, reporting and multimedia skills.
• Display excellent news judgment and journalism ethics.
• Be a constant generator of story ideas and able to produce content early and often during peak audience periods.
• Have a knack for SEO-driven headlines and other audience-driving strategies.
• Be nimble and able to adjust swiftly to shifting news demands.

Requirements:

• Bachelor's degree or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Reporting experience, preferably in a digitally focused news organization.
• Commitment to detail, accuracy and fairness.
• Ability to multitask and excel under deadline pressure, using time efficiently.
• This role requires a valid driver's license, reliable transportation, and the minimum liability insurance required by state law.
• The position is based in our Knoxville, Tennessee newsroom.

Life in Knoxville

Knoxville combines the best of urban and outdoors life in one of the most beautiful settings in America, on the banks of the Tennessee River and in the shadows of the Great Smoky Mountains. The city is home to the University of Tennessee, which adds even more energy to a dynamic city that hosts internationally recognized chefs, a thriving independent retail scene, world-class outdoors venues, including the renowned urban wilderness, and the elite athletics of the Southeastern Conference. And the cost of living will wow you - it's one of the country's more affordable urban areas in a state with no income tax.

Application Instructions

We are eager to learn more about you and how you fit this role. When you apply, don't limit your upload to a resume; show us what you've done. To do so, put together a single document file that includes the following, in this order:

1. Your resume - one to two pages.
2. A cover letter that outlines how you would approach the job.
3. Examples of at least five stories you're proud of. Try to include some that you turned quickly and that used alternative story forms.

It is important that these items be assembled into a single document and uploaded in PDF format. Completing these steps will ensure that your application receives the highest consideration.

#Newsgnt

#LI-CB1

Client-provided location(s): Knoxville, TN

Job ID: utn-86903

Employment Type: OTHER

Posted: 2026-01-23T20:04:37